Working together for common good

Governmental cooperation in theory is a wonderful thing - sharing resources, developing a common vision and goal, putting collective brain power to use to find the best ways to do things.

Large scale cooperation like that is not commonplace, which is why the recreation and trail plan being developed by seven - yes, seven - governmental units in and around Harbor Springs is so special.

Called the Recreation and Open Space Initiative, the cooperative effort is designed to maintain and expand open space, identify recreational facilities, expand the area's trail systems - in short, work together on a huge project.

The units involved: the city of Harbor Springs, West and Little Traverse townships and Pleasantview, Readmond, Friendship and Cross Village townships. The area roughly parallels the Harbor Springs School District. The promoter and pusher of the idea - HARBOR, Inc., which has a stated goal of cooperation between those governmental agencies.

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"I think it's so cool to have these different entities working together. Any time that opportunity happens, I jump on it," said Friendship Township supervisor Dale Scott in a recent story. "By doing something like this it creates an exchange of ideas from supervisors and others. The more people actually cooperate with other communities … as long as they participate … then things are going to get done."

Again and again, meeting after meeting, three things rang loud and clear: trails, open space and recreational opportunities. Along with these expressed interests came words like protect and enhance.

"It's one of those things where the vision people have for the community is no surprise," said Tom Bailey, executive director of the Little Traverse Conservancy. "Open space is my profession here and my focus. Obviously I'm very attuned to that aspect. It didn't come as any surprise that there was a concern about open space."

The Harbor Area Recreation, Trails and Open Space Plan - which does include an extensive inventory of current recreational facilities - therefore sets out to fill the gaps of what doesn't already exist, enhancing upon what's already available.

Its three goals:

- Trails, to create an easement program, trail routes program and safe routes to school program to provide non-motorized trails that would create a greater connectiveness and access to communities and other resources.

- Open space, to focus on potential greenway corridors and large parcels to maintain the integrity of existing open space, while working to create new waterfront open space and view sites.

- Umbrella system, to develop a simple, flexible way of bringing together recreation opportunities and needs, providing coordination of activities and addressing funding and location needs.

At the end of the day, the good folk around Harbor Springs sat down, decided on a plan and are moving forward.

There are some other cooperative efforts around - the open space look around Petoskey with the city, Resort and Bear Creek townships, the Little Traverse Bay Bands, but there are none as large as the Harbor effort.

It is a great effort to protect and enhance a very special part of Emmet County.